New Distinguished Poet in the Eastern Region
We are delighted to welcome Gideon Young as the new Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet in the Eastern Region, appointed for the 2024-26 term by Regional Coordinator Kelly Jones. To read more on Gideon and his accomplishments, click here and scroll down to his picture and biography.
Gilbert-Chappell Readings in Spring 2024
The annual spring readings for Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series have been scheduled across the state during April, National Poetry Month. On Monday, April 1, at noon, the reading in the western region was held in the Student Union Auditorium at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee (see attached photo).
On Saturday, May 18, at 5 p.m., the reading in the central region took place at Fly Leaf Books in Chapel Hill (see attached photo).
And on Saturday, June 1, at 4 p.m., the GCDPS reading for the eastern region took place at renowned Fountain General Store in Fountain. Everyone is welcome to attend these free events. We encourage you to support the next generation of North Carolina poets!
2024 Mentees for the Eastern Region
We are pleased to announce the Gilbert-Chappell Series emerging poets who have been selected for the eastern region in spring 2024: Amya Brown of Greenville (high school); Sienna Morgan of Rocky Mount (adult); Mckenna Ware-Rudnik of Whiteville (high school); and Jalyn White of Pinetops (high school). Congratulations to all, and thanks to our Eastern Regional Coordinator Kelly Jones and Distinguished Poet Melinda Thomsen.
2024 Mentees for the Central Region
We are pleased to announce the Gilbert-Chappell Series emerging poets who have been selected for the central region in spring 2024: Aarushi Areti of Apex (middle school); Cora Hicks of High Point (college); Jasmine Kumala of Durham (adult); and Kiran Singh of Cary (high school). Thanks to all who applied for this program and especially to our Central Regional Coordinator Sherry Siddall and Distinguished Poet Maria Rouphail.
2024 Mentees for the Western Region
We are pleased to announce the Gilbert-Chappell Series emerging poets who have been selected for the western region in spring 2024: Kaye Marion Campbell of Watauga County (high school); Ezra Dalton of Jackson County (college); Janet Ford of Alexander County (adult); and Mary Ellen Hammond of Swain County (adult). Thanks to all who applied for this program and especially to our Western Regional Coordinator Caleb Beissert and Distinguished Poet Mildred Kiconco Barya.
2023 Gilbert-Chappell Anthology Now Available
The 2023 issue of Witness: From Appalachia to Hatteras, the yearly anthology published by the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Series, is now available. Special thanks to Regional Coordinator Kelly Jones for his wonderful work editing this volume, which includes poems by our three Distinguished Poets and their mentees from across the state. To purchase a copy, click here.
New Distinguished Poet in the Western Region
Regional Coordinator Caleb Beissert has named Mildred Kiconco Barya as Distinguished Poet for 2023-25 for the western Region. Ms. Barya is a Ugandan poet, prose writer, and associate professor at UNC-Asheville. She’s the author of four full-length poetry collections, most recently The Animals of My Earth School, released by Terrapin Books, 2023. Her prose, hybrids, and poems have appeared in a variety of publications. Her essay, “Being Here in This Body,” won the 2020 Linda Flowers Literary Award. She coordinates the Poetrio Reading events at Malaprop’s Independent Bookstore/Café and blogs here: www.mildredbarya.com.
Special thanks to Ken Chamlee for his excellent mentorship during 2021-23 in the western region.
New Distinguished Poet in the Central Region
Regional Coordinator Janis Harrington has named Maria Rouphail as Distinguished Poet for 2023-25 for the central region. Ms. Rouphail is Poetry Editor of Main Street Rag and has published three collections. Her latest collection, All the Way to China, was a finalist in both the University of Wisconsin Brittingham Poetry and the Blue Light Press competitions. Her earlier collections are Apertures and Second Skin. In 2022, Rouphail won the NCPS Poet Laureate competition. In 2023, she was awarded in both the Randall Jarrell and the Prime Magazines contests. A six-time Pushcart nominee, she lives in Raleigh.
Special thanks to Grace Ocasio for her excellent mentorship during 2021-23 in the central region.
New Central Regional Coordinator
We are pleased to announce that Sherry Siddall has agreed to serve as the new Regional Coordinator for the central region. She is the author of the chapbook Sweet Land, published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. Her work has appeared in Tar River Poetry, Kakalak, Pinesong, and elsewhere, and has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. She lives in Chapel Hill.
Special thanks to Janis Harrington for her excellent leadership in the central region from 2021-23.
Gilbert-Chappell Anthology Available
The 2022 anthology of the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series, entitled Witness: From Appalachia to Hatteras, is now available. The volume includes work by twelve emerging poets from 2021-22 as well as by the Distinguished Poets in the three regions of North Carolina. Special thanks to Kelly Jones for his great efforts editing Witness. To order your copy, click here.
About the Series
This mentoring program links established poets in three regions of North Carolina with emerging poets, enabling them to develop and perfect their lyric craft. Students in middle school, high school, and college, and adults not in school may apply to work with a Distinguished Poet during the winter months. Our Distinguished Poets this year are: Anna Lena Phillips Bell in the eastern region, Grace Ocasio in the central region, and Ke3n Chamlee in the western region. In spring 2021, the resulting poems will be presented at group and individual readings at venues across the state. An anthology of these poems entitled Witness: Appalachia to Hatteras will be published by Saint Andrews University Press in late 2021. To read the brochure or apply for the program, click on the links below.
The Gilbert-Chappell Series Leadership
Our Regional Coordinators for 2023-24 are: Kelly Jones in the East, Sherry Siddall in the Center, and Caleb Beissert in the West. Thanks to these talented poet-leaders as we enter the new cycle of mentoring this coming winter and spring. David Radavich remains the overall Administrator of the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series. He will be stepping down at the end of 2024, and the new state-wide coordinator will be Malaika King Albrecht.